Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Seat associated
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-24
2004-09-28
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Seat associated
C224S572000, C224S906000, C224S926000, C248S346060, C248S346300, C296S037150, C296S037500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06796469
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to carrier devices. More specifically, this invention relates to a device for safely and securely transporting objects such as flowers in a vehicle. For example, the device according to the invention can secure an object, such as an arrangement of flowers in a vase, within the device, and then be secured on the seat of an automobile using the vehicle's standard seatbelt. In addition, the present invention may secure one or more objects of varying sizes and shapes safely on the seat of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Carrier devices for vehicles are not new. However, the need for a simple, stable device for transporting objects in vehicles has long been apparent. Carrier devices are generally designed to hold objects on flat, stationary surfaces. However, objects that are transported on uneven and/or moving surfaces, such as the seat of a moving vehicle have a higher probability of shifting, tipping and breaking, thereby causing damage to the interior of the vehicle or the objects themselves.
Individuals who opt to transport objects in a vehicle wish to arrive at their destination safely, without damaging their vehicle, its contents, or any articles they may be transporting. Drivers are often distracted by poorly secured objects moving around within their vehicle, and sometimes even attempt to stabilize such objects by placing them on the floor or on the vehicle seat. This solution is palpably inadequate, as objects still tend to tip, shift, slide or fall while the vehicle is in motion, which can potentially cause damage to the object, the automobile and the driver. Further, the size and shape of some objects do not permit a driver to safely place them on the floor or vehicle seat. One solution is to use the vehicle's standard seatbelt to secure an object. An example of this is a conventional child safety seat, which is specifically designed to be firmly secured in position using the vehicle's seatbelt. However, this does not always work, as a seatbelt is not designed to fit properly around most objects. Further, the shape of the seat or the tension of the seatbelt itself may cause substantial damage to a particular object. Many devices for storing and/or transporting objects in a vehicle are known. Some of these are briefly discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,655 (“Salopek”) describes a device for storing objects, which is mounted behind the front seats of an extended cab truck. This device is shown in FIG.
1
. The device comprises of a container
8
divided into compartments by panels
2
,
4
and
6
. One disadvantage with Salopek is that the device is only compatible with an extended cab truck because it is specifically designed to fit over a folded down jump seat. Another disadvantage with such a device is that it must be assembled and installed. Due to its size, a considerable amount of time and effort is required to first assemble then install this device.
Yet another disadvantage with Salopek is that the device does not secure objects stored within its compartments. Thus, objects are free to shift around, tip over and even fall out of the compartments, causing damage to the object and/or the vehicle. Finally, the Salopek device is specifically designed to be mounted in the rear of a vehicle making it difficult to put objects into the device, and virtually impossible for the driver to easily monitor the status of the object while driving.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,839 (“Bell”) discloses a seat back carrier
9
, specifically designed to hold oxygen tanks, as depicted in FIG.
2
A. Bell provides a personal oxygen system carrier comprising first frame
11
which is constructed from horizontal support members frames
12
and
14
and vertical support members
10
and
16
, second frame
17
constructed from horizontal support members frames
19
,
20
and
24
, and vertical support members
18
and
22
. Upper and lower struts
26
having first end-
28
and second end
40
both rotatably connect to first frame
11
and second frame
17
, respectively. Also, as depicted in
FIG. 2B
, oxygen tank
46
is secured in carrier
9
by load retention straps
48
and
50
, while carrier
9
hangs from headrest
52
by “s” hooks
56
and is secured to seat back
44
by flexible support straps
42
and
54
.
One disadvantage of the design disclosed in Bell is that load retention strap
50
rests over the center of the object being carried. Objects more fragile than oxygen tanks are likely to be damaged during transportation because load retention strap
50
is designed to bear a large force on an oxygen tank during transit. Another disadvantage with Bell's design is that, like Salopek's device, it is specifically designed to carry objects immediately behind a seat. This design feature is problematic because it keeps the object out of the immediate sight range of the driver and it limits the transporting of objects to specific shapes, sizes and weights. For example, the carrier will likely jostle smaller, lighter objects, causing some or significant damage thereto. Finally, another disadvantage of the design disclosed by Bell is that the dimensions of the device are such that it is impossible to adequately secure objects of varying sizes and shapes, specifically, thinner, smaller objects. Another disadvantage is that smaller objects can slide through the openings of the closed device onto the floor.
Yet another conventional carrier device is shown in
FIGS. 3A and 3B
. As depicted, carrier
90
, which bears the name Kroger Flowers, is a device for transporting flowers in a vehicle. Referring first to
FIG. 3A
, shown is a top plan view of the pre-constructed version of carrier device
90
. This pre-constructed form comprises a generally rectangular sheet forming side panels
60
,
62
,
64
,
66
, base panels
68
,
70
,
72
,
74
, side flaps
78
and
82
and semi-circle panels
80
and
84
. Diamond-cut openings
86
and
88
are positioned on side panels
60
and
64
, which, as shown in
FIG. 3B
, are designed to secure side flaps in the constructed version of carrier device
90
. Turning now to
FIG. 3B
, depicted is carrier device
90
in its constructed form. To construct the device, side panels
60
,
62
,
64
and
66
must be folded into a square and then secured by folding and gluing bottom panels
68
,
70
,
72
and
74
on top of one another and then gluing tab
76
to the inside of side panel
66
. Once constructed, Kroger has a circular perforated opening on its top formed by semi-circle panels
80
and
84
through which flowers or vases are inserted. The box shape is secured by folding side flaps
78
and
82
into diamond-cut openings
86
and
88
on side panels
60
and
64
.
One disadvantage of carrier device
90
is that the shape of the device is not adjustable to securely carry flower arrangements of different shapes and sizes. Though carrier
90
may be useful for certain specific flower arrangements, the standard size will not accommodate a wide variety of flower arrangements. One would have to construct carrier device
90
in alternate sizes to accommodate for different flower arrangements. Another disadvantage is that carrier device
90
cannot adequately secure larger floral arrangements due to their top-heavy nature. Although carrier
90
may provide some support at the sides of the flower arrangement and may provide a flat surface on which a flower arrangement can stand, movement and bumps associated with a moving vehicle will most likely cause the floral arrangement to sway, tip and ultimately fall over. Yet another disadvantage of carrier device
90
is that the bumps and turns associated with vehicular movement will induce side flaps
78
and
82
to pop out of diamond-cut openings
86
and
88
, causing the device to collapse. Yet another disadvantage is that carrier device
90
does not have any means to adequately secure it within a vehicle. Although carrier device
90
may provide a flat surface upon which flowers can stand, the device itself is
Elkins Gary E.
Ward & Olivo
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